Architects

Aandahl, Frederik

ID:

1546

Full Name:

Frederik
Aandahl
, Sr.

Occupation:

Architect

Gender:

M

Nationality:

Norway/US

Birth Date:

08/28/1887

Death Date:

05/11/1950

Family:

Spouse: He married Gunhild Solgaard Aandahl (born c. 1890 in Norway), 02/06/1913 in New York City, NY. The 1930 US Census indicated that Gunhild came to the US in 1911.Children: His only son, Frederick Aandahl, Jr, (born 04/03/1919 in OR), married the daughter of fellow Norwegian-American Portland architect, Knud A. Roald (1878-1965), Irma Roald (born 10/31/1917 in OR). Frederick, Jr., and Irma lived for many years (1935-1993) in Princeton, NJ and later in Monmouth Junction, NJ.Relocation: Aandahl emigrated from Norway to New York, NY, in 1909; in 1910, he lived in a rooming house at 83 Lexington Avenue in New York. He worked as a draftsman at this time, as did a rooming house neighbor of Norwegian ancestry, Thorvald Frost. He and his wife resided at 4 1/2 Park Avenue, Saranac Lake, NY in 1917, where he worked for Scopes and Feustman, Architects. Aandahl worked in NY State until 1918, when he arrived in Portland, OR. According to the US Census of 1920, he and Gunhild lived at 404 Larrabee Avenue, Portland. He and his wife lived at 311 East 26th Street (97232-3115) in Portland, OR, in 1930; this residence had a modest approximate value, $5,500. In 1930, a draftsman, John L. Brulator (born c. 1890 in LA) lived across the street from Aandahl at 306 East 26th Street. Architect William Clausen (born c. 1878 in IL) lived nearby at 803 Clackamas Street at the same time. In 1942, he lived at 1431 NE 26th Avenue, Portland, OR. He died of cancer in Portland, OR.

Biographical Information:

Education: Trondheim Latin School, Trondheim, Norway; graduated from Trondheim Technical Institute, Trondheim, Norway, 1908; studied subsequently in Sweden and Denmark, 1908-1909; Work History: Draftsman, Henry M. Congdon and Sons, Architects, New York, NY, 1910-1915; Draftsman and Site Superintendent, Scopes and Feustman, Architects, New York City and Saranac Lake, NY, 1916-1918; Chief Draftsman, Sutton and Whitney, Architects, Portland, OR, 1919-1923; Associate, Sutton and Whitney, Architects, Portland, OR, 1923-1933 or 1934; Partner, Sutton, Whitney and Aandahl, Architects, Portland, OR, 1933 or 1934-1950; in 1942, Sutton, Whitney and Aandahl operated from an office in Room #911, Lewis Building, Portland.Miscellaneous: According to Richard Ellison Ritz: "Frederick Aandahl's role in the design of the Sutton & Whitney firm's projects is not entirely clear. For years it was tradition in the Portland architectural community that the Sutton & Whitney designs were all the work of Fred Fritsch, but there is strong evidence that Aandahl was an important contributor to the firm's designs, and that Fritsch and Aandahl worked together as a team, with Aandahl developing the concepts and Fritsch as delineator and developer of details." (See Richard Ellison Ritz, "Aandahl, Fredrick," Architects of Oregon, [Portland, OR: Lair Hill Publishing, 2002], p. 1-2.) Aandahl's first name has been written "Frederick" in various spots, but his World War II Draft Registration Card, signed in his own hand, spelled it "Frederik." His World War I Draft Registration Card indicated that he had been born in Sonfjord, Norway; Floro was in the county of Sogn og Fjordane. This draft card described him, at age 30, to be of medium height and build, with blue eyes and brown hair.